Interview with Kunkyi

Yakpo’s Kunkyi Tsotsong discusses her experience studying and practicing her art.

Pema Dolkar: When did you start exploring the arts?

Kunkyi Tsotsong: When I was in the 5th grade, my best friend at the time would always draw in her sketchbook. I started copying her and I realized I like drawing so I started making little story books.

 Why storybooks? 

I liked making things that I’ve experienced or have some sort of meaning. So I would draw the things that happened in little boxes like comic books and I would show my friends.

How do you decide the subjects of your artworks?

I feel like my artwork is very vast in terms of subject, I wouldn’t really say I have style but I just don’t know how to describe it. 

 What purpose does your art serve to you?

For me the way I see the world is very based off of art. I feel like art and design just exists everywhere. For me it was like why shouldn’t I make it? Rather than why do I make it? Its ingrained in my mind.

What is your process of creation?

Sometimes an idea will come up on the spot, like if I’m in school. Sometimes it’ll take a few days. And some days I’ll work on it for like 6 hours, then another 6 hours a day. I don’t like taking breaks. I‘ll take a go at it till I’m satisfied. But I’m never satisfied. So unless I really can’t project it, I’ll keep working on it. 

As a member of the Yakpo committee, how does your position help you navigate your profession within and outside the collective?

I think being part of the team I know how it works behind the scenes and how much work everyone puts in and most of the time what we put out is not 100% of the effort of the work everyone puts in behind the scenes. It makes me more mindful of deadlines and even if the result isn’t good, it is the process that is meaningful.  

How was your experience pursuing art school as a Tibetan?

Unlike other professions, design and anything art related is so free, there’s no set path. Like pre-med, you do school and residencies. With art you have to do your own thing and when you don’t know what you want, it can be scary. It would have been helpful if someone had been there to mentor. But regardless for the lack of guidance, I was still able to find my way, through trial and error. I hope me being in this field would inspire other Tibetans to pursue art as a career and not be afraid to take risks. 

How’d you tell your parents?

I used to go to a different school, double majoring in studio art and anthropology, I was going to change but then I realized I wasn’t focused on anything but my studio art classes. And thought maybe I should pursue it and if I’m doing good in these classes, why not. I was going to do fine arts, but if I did, that would have been a risky career. That would have been a lot of stress on me and my parents, financially. So I design because it’s more stable. 

What are your short term and long term goals? 

My short term goal is to get a design internship in the summer. And long term, maybe since my major now is design its a bit different from the fine arts world. Work at design firm or work for myself. 

What is the Tibetan Contemporary Art Movement? 

I think this new wave of TCA is taking our culture to the next step, not just our culture, the culture of the youth to the West, because we’re not introduced to art made by modern people. Now we have the resources and space to feature young artists and I think it’s important for everyone to experience and know that it exists. 

What does TCA symbolize to you?

Converting pain to positivity for the artworks, and work in general I’ve been seeing is relating to the Tibetan freedom movement in some sort, whether images or words. But it is not always displayed in a negative light. A lot of artists are taking their personal Tibetan experiences and showcase it in a way that shows our spirit and shows that we’re not backing down our resilience. 

 What role does this play in your consumption and production of art?

I would say it makes me want to produce more art.

It’s made me realize that a lot of my art is inspired by who I am and where I come from. I can also explore my identity in a deeper level.